NatStats08 Conference features leading social and environment policy advisors

Statistics will be critical to the delivery of successful outcomes of the Australia 2020 Summit and the National Reform Agenda in terms of measuring progress and performance, assisting government policy and decision making and informing community debate and research on the key issues.

The type of statistics required and the role statistics can play in future policy decisions to ensure the nation's information resources remain relevant, timely and accurate will be a focal point of the inaugural conference of the National Statistical Service - NatStats08 Conference.

To be held at the Crown Promenade Hotel in Melbourne on the 19-21 November 2008, the aim of the conference is to help shape future directions in the collection of statistical information to ensure that policy makers have effective measures of the key issues facing Australian society.

Secretary for the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Professor Peter Dawkins;

Director of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Dr Penny Allbon; and

Vice-Chancellor, James Cook University, Professor Sandra Harding.

The NatStats08 conference is an opportunity to build stronger relationships between information providers, policy makers, opinion leaders and the community to better utilise information resources across the nation, supporting a culture increasingly reliant on evidence-based decision making.

The three main themes of the conference will be:

Informing the Nation with sessions on Health, Education and Indigenous Australia;

Measuring Progress of Society with sessions on Social Inclusion, Measuring Progress in Australian Society and Community Indicators; and